Epitaphhttp://elevatedifference.com/taxonomy/term/4351/all
enAt Home We Are Touristshttp://elevatedifference.com/review/home-we-are-tourists
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<div class="author">By <a href="/author/settle">Settle</a></div><div class="publisher"><a href="/publisher/epitaph">Epitaph</a></div> </div>
<p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001W9SXUM?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=feminrevie-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B001W9SXUM">At Home We Are Tourists</a></em> is the first full length album from this eastern Pennsylvania band. These four guys have been together for a while though and have a fair amount of experience, including winning MTVU’s “Best Band on Campus” competition in 2006. From the opening track of this album Settle establishes themselves as a band with a knack for creating fun, danceable pop tunes.</p>
<p>A quick look at Settle’s <a href="http://www.myspace.com/settle">MySpace page</a> reveals a die hard fan base, which isn’t too surprising as their music has that “my favorite little garage band” feel. Pop-punk influences like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019M82W6?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=feminrevie-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0019M82W6">Alkaline Trio</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005MHQO?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=feminrevie-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B00005MHQO">Jimmy Eat World</a> are clear in their music, but Settle’s sound manages to set them apart from the other dozens of bands that fall into this genre. Indeed, the combination of clear musical talent on their strings and percussion with solid vocals (yes layered, but layered well) creates a tight sound normally earned by more seasoned musicians who have been playing together for years. Some songs even boast their willingness to play with more electronic sounds, most obviously in “ISO: 49yr old M W/ Kids seeks 26 yr old F W/O Kids.”</p>
<p>Settle also escapes the often trite adolescent tones that one might expect from the first album from a band with such obvious pop punk sounds. The lyrics and themes are curiously insightful. In one of two slower songs on the album, “Sunday, Morning After,” lead singer Dave Goletz’s deep, full voice appropriately croaks “I used to think I’d have to stay a while, but I don’t think you know who I am.” A nice whistling accompaniment follows and completes the nonchalant sentiments of the morning after a one night stand: emotions relatable and not often discussed in music without heavy brokenheartedness.</p>
<p>One can also catch glimpses of softer, echoed vocals more associated with good '80s pop in “On the Prowl,” and they dabble with noise rock chaos in the track “Dance Rock is the New Pasture” just to shake off, or beat off, any accusations of easy pop melodies. Check out their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/settle">MySpace page</a> to get a better sample of the songs from their current album, which establishes them as a band whose ability to write good pop songs matches their clear musical talent.</p> <div>
<span class="reviewer-names"><strong>Written by:</strong> <a href="/reviewer/sara-custer">Sara Custer</a></span>, October 5th 2009 </div>
<div class="tag-list">Tags: <a href="/tag/80s-music">80s music</a>, <a href="/tag/noise-rock">noise rock</a>, <a href="/tag/pop-punk">pop punk</a></div> </div>
http://elevatedifference.com/review/home-we-are-tourists#commentsMusicSettleEpitaphSara Custer80s musicnoise rockpop punkMon, 05 Oct 2009 21:07:00 +0000admin1269 at http://elevatedifference.comYouthanizehttp://elevatedifference.com/review/youthanize
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<div class="author">By <a href="/author/color-violence">The Color of Violence</a></div><div class="publisher"><a href="/publisher/epitaph">Epitaph</a></div> </div>
<p>Travis Richter and Derek Bloom from the Color of Violence are also in the band From First to Last. Confession: I don’t like the band <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00027JYY4?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=feminrevie-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B00027JYY4">From First to Last</a>. There’s something about sing-songy vocals in hardcore music that just doesn’t feel right, and that’s pretty much FFTL’s M.O. For me, they’re a bit like cheddar cheese on Chinese food. Both cheddar and Chinese food are good on their own, but together, they equal something that makes me think about that time at the fair when I rode the Octopus after eating three corn dogs and more than my share of extra-greasy funnel cake.</p>
<p>HOWEVER! The Color of Violence is brash and sassy and screamy and heavy-drummy-mathy-fuzzy-howly-guitary. The artwork on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T46U5K?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=feminrevie-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B001T46U5K"><em>Youthanize</em></a> is covered with sex, bacon faces, and skulls. They have a song called “Crapandemic” which sounds exactly like you would think a “Crapandemic” would sound like. It is like the summer I ate the E. coli-tainted bagged spinach set magically to music.</p>
<p>This is what post-hardcore is supposed to be about; it is supposed to be a migraine headache and a violent bowel movement with guitar and drums. The only vague moment of sing-songy comes on “Look! I Made It! I’m Dating an Actress!,” which is still balanced by plenty of growling-guitar swagger. Sure, there is no question they glean much of their influence from bands like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VL9XE2?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=feminrevie-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B000VL9XE2">Dillinger Escape Plan</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I2IRDW?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=feminrevie-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B000I2IRDW">Converge</a>, but they one-up their competition with two drummers!</p>
<p>You may ask why any band would need two drummers, but then I would ask you to ask <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000001BDU?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=feminrevie-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B000001BDU">King Buzzo</a></em> why the Melvins and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001URRIKM?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=feminrevie-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B001URRIKM">Big Business</a> needed two drummers when they played together as The Most Amazing Band in the World. Then I would ask you to ask yourself (right after you ask me why I ask so many questions) how much more amazing two drummers are then one. They sound like half an octopus (the sea-beast, not the pukey fair ride), and if you multiply half an octopus with baconface-skulls and mathy guitars, it roughly equals awesome.</p>
<p>My mind is blown. It feels like there are fish swimming around in my brain, which means that I am re-thinking the cheddar-covered Moo Shu pork I ate for lunch. Superb.</p> <div>
<span class="reviewer-names"><strong>Written by:</strong> <a href="/reviewer/emily-s-dunster">Emily S. Dunster</a></span>, September 29th 2009 </div>
<div class="tag-list">Tags: <a href="/tag/math-rock">math rock</a>, <a href="/tag/post-hardcore">post-hardcore</a></div> </div>
http://elevatedifference.com/review/youthanize#commentsMusicThe Color of ViolenceEpitaphEmily S. Dunstermath rockpost-hardcoreWed, 30 Sep 2009 00:13:00 +0000admin2517 at http://elevatedifference.com